Rollen stewart biography of barack

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By 1979, he had expanded to events like Major League Baseball's All-Star Game and the Super Bowl, consistently positioning himself to dance and wave without any scripted routine beyond his energetic flair.^[1][4]The initial reception to Stewart's antics was mixed but largely amused, with crowds and media viewing him as a harmless, eccentric mascot who added levity to broadcasts.

He made a brief appearance in a beer commercial, but broader sponsorship discussions with brands faltered due to his eccentric, disruptive style—often involving dancing in a loincloth and rainbow wig—which alienated potential partners.^[2] Television networks and sports venues increasingly rejected him, with broadcast directors issuing threats of ejection and implementing bans to curb his interruptions, limiting his exposure and commercial opportunities.^[4]By the late 1980s, Stewart's financial situation deteriorated rapidly, marking the failure of his commercialization efforts.

Targets included Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral, the Orange County Register, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and a Christian bookstore. While on the road, they married in St. Louis in 1986. On a personal level, he quit drugs and alcohol, achieving sobriety, and reframed his prior lifestyle of hedonism and fame-chasing as sinful, dedicating himself entirely to his ministerial calling despite occasional reports of lingering inconsistencies in his behavior.^[12][13]

John 3:16 Campaign and Sports Appearances

Following his religious conversion in 1980, Rollen Stewart launched the John 3:16 campaign, an evangelistic effort aimed at broadcasting the Bible verse "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16) to television audiences during major sporting events.^[4][1] Stewart's core strategy involved scouting venues in advance to identify optimal positions behind television cameras, such as directly behind NFL goalposts, NBA backboards, or MLB home plates, ensuring his signs or T-shirts emblazoned with the verse appeared in live broadcasts.^[4][1][2] He carried a battery-operated portable television to monitor camera angles in real time, allowing him to reposition dynamically for maximum visibility during key plays or athlete close-ups.^[1][2]Stewart executed this campaign relentlessly throughout the 1980s, averaging about two per week.^[1][4] Notable appearances included Super Bowl XV in 1981, where his sign gained widespread exposure during the Oakland Raiders' victory; the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, positioning himself for shots of track and field events; and the 1986 World Series between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, coordinated with his wife's assistance to cover multiple games.^[1][4] He also infiltrated WrestleMania events, international soccer matches like the World Cup, and even non-sports broadcasts such as the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, adapting his tactics to any high-profile televised gathering.^[1][4]Logistically, Stewart relied on a small network of supporters, including his wife, who helped with coordination and sign-holding at events like the 1986 World Series, and occasional helpers for travel arrangements.^[4][1] He drove approximately 60,000 miles annually in a personal vehicle, often living out of his car to minimize costs, and funded the endeavor through personal savings, a modest inheritance, and donations from sympathetic evangelical Christians who provided cash, free tickets, and accommodations.^[1][2][4] This grassroots approach enabled him to access premium seating without payment about nine times out of ten, by sneaking into restricted areas or leveraging his growing notoriety.^[2]Over the decade, Stewart's tactics evolved from passive sign-holding to more disruptive methods as he sought greater impact amid increasing event security.^[4][1][2] Early efforts in the 1980s emphasized silent visibility, but by the mid-to-late 1980s, he incorporated yelling to draw attention and began repositioning aggressively during broadcasts, sometimes holding children aloft for better camera framing.^[4][1] These intrusions escalated toward the end of the decade, with the use of air horns to interrupt proceedings and, in one instance, deploying stink bombs at venues to force camera shifts toward his signs.^[4][1][2]

Peak Fame and Media Presence

Notable Events and Visibility

One of Rollen Stewart's most iconic moments came during the 1981 royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, where he sought exposure by displaying his "John 3:16" banner.^[1] His presence exemplified his tactic of infiltrating high-profile televised gatherings beyond sports.Stewart's visibility surged through major sports events in the 1980s, including NFL playoffs and other football games, where he positioned himself behind goalposts or in camera sightlines to maximize airtime, often appearing more frequently than the announcers themselves.

His antics earned TV interview spots, including a 1982 appearance discussing his mission, and contributed to pop culture nods, such as the 1997 documentary The Rainbow Man/John 3:16 by Sam Green, which chronicled his rise to national notoriety.^[15][16]Public perception of Stewart evolved from a fun, attention-grabbing novelty in the late 1970s to a dedicated evangelist by the mid-1980s, though his persistent disruptions prompted backlash.

This windfall allowed him to avoid steady employment and live a relatively carefree existence in the Pacific Northwest during the 1960s.^[4]In his early adulthood, Stewart pursued short-lived occupations that aligned with his interests in speed and mechanics, including stints as a drag racer and a motorcyclemechanic, where he owned a small repair shop.

During the broadcast, Taylor issued an altar call, prompting Stewart to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, marking his conversion to born-again Christianity.^[12][13] Although raised in a Roman Catholic household, Stewart later reflected that he had never encountered the concept of saving grace until this moment.^[12]This conversion led to a rapid theological transformation, with Stewart immersing himself in Bible study, particularly focusing on end-times prophecy.

His persistent visibility in the 1970s and 1980s popularized the practice, inspiring independent followers who continue holding similar signs today as a direct result of his campaign's reach via televised broadcasts. The cumulative impact of these family tragedies contributed to a sense of rootlessness that persisted into his personal development.^[4]

Early Adulthood and Influences

Following the family tragedies of his youth, Stewart received an inheritance that provided financial independence.

by breaking down the door, arresting Stewart without further violence; a search revealed a loaded .45-caliber pistol, provisions for an extended stay, religious pamphlets outlining his manifesto-like beliefs, and his signature rainbow wig.^[18][20]Stewart faced state charges in Los AngelesSuperior Court for the hotel incident, including three counts of kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, and making terrorist threats.^[18] He rejected a plea bargain offering 12 years in prison, opting for a trial to use the courtroom as a platform for his evangelism.^[21] The trial, presided over by Judge Robert P.

O’Neill, began in May 1993 and featured testimony from the hostage and law enforcement; on June 11, 1993, the jury convicted him on all six counts after less than a day of deliberations.^[18]On July 13, 1993, Stewart was sentenced to three concurrent life terms in prison, with parole eligibility to be assessed by the California Department of Corrections based on his behavior and risk level.^[21] The judge described Stewart as a continuing public danger despite his professed religious motivations, emphasizing the terror inflicted on the victim and potential for broader harm.^[21] In a separate 1994trial, Stewart was convicted on four felony counts related to the 1991 stink bomb incidents—described as deploying timed explosive devices—and received an additional five-year consecutive sentence, delaying any parole consideration until at least 2002.^[22][19]

Imprisonment and Later Life

Prison Term Details

Following his 1993 conviction on multiple kidnapping charges, Rollen Stewart was transferred to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation system, where he has been housed at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, California, since the mid-1990s.^[2][1] He is serving three consecutive life sentences, with a minimum term that made him eligible for parole consideration starting in February 2022.^[23]Stewart's daily routine in prison has included limited interactions due to his security classification and ongoing behavioral concerns, with access to media and visitors restricted to prevent further publicity stunts.^[2] He has continued religious activities by corresponding with outsiders, penning letters to recruit successors for his John 3:16 evangelism efforts, though these have yielded no notable results.^[1]As of November 2025, Stewart, born in 1944, is 81 years old and remains at Mule Creek State Prison.^[24] His parole attempts have been unsuccessful, including denials in multiple hearings such as one in March 2008, where the board cited his persistent danger to society based on prior obsessive actions, and a June 2023 hearing.^[2][25]

Personal Reflections and Legacy

From prison, Rollen Stewart has expressed views framing his past actions as divinely inspired warnings of the apocalypse, showing no remorse beyond regretting their timing.

In a 2008 interview, he described his 1992 hostage incident as "a crime to prevent a greater harm," likening it to pushing aside obstacles to enter a burning building, and stated that his "final presentation" was mistimed but otherwise justified. During the standoff, he threatened to shoot at airplanes taking off from nearby Los Angeles International Airport, and covered the hotel room windows with "John 3:16" placards.

Stewart is currently serving three consecutive life sentences in prison on kidnapping charges, having rejected a plea deal of 12 years in order to spread his message in open court.